Cheese-cutter.



No. 662,970. v Patented Dec. 4, |900'.

H. G. RUTH.

CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application led Aug. 31, 1909.)

2 Sheets--Sheet I.

(no udem cams frans co, Merom-Mo.. 'wAsn No. 502,970. I 'Patented Dee. 4, |900.l i'

H. G. 80TH.` CHEESE cunas..

(Application med Aug.. 31, 1909.). A .(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

NTTED STATES PATENT Orricn.

HENRY G. ROTH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CHEESE-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,970, dated December 4, 1900.

Application led August 31, 1900. Serial No. 28,639. I\1\To modelJ T @ZZ whom itnwty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. ROTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cheese-Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its object to provide an improved cheese-cutter; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

device.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. v

Figure l is a view in central vertical section, showing my improved cheese-cutting Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation, with some parts broken away, showing a portion of the said device. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with some parts broken away and with the knife moved downward. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view, in central vertical section and with some parts broken away, showing the pivotal center or central connectingV devices of the cheese cutter. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line x5 m5 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a portion of the knife and its fulcrum-block, and Fig. '7 is a plan view showing in detail the .straight-edge or guiding-arm which coperates with the knife.

The numeral 1 indicates a supporting-base, and the numeral 2 indicates the cheese-supporting table or cutting-board. In this preferred construction the table 2 is pivotally mounted on the base 1, and for this purpose the said base 1 is provided with a secured and vertical projecting bearing-sleeve 3, on which the table 2 is pivotally mounted, the said table advisably having a ring @l secured to its under surface and working pivotally around the said sleeve 3 and resting uponthe shoulder 5 thereof.

The numeral 6 indicates a vertically-disposed centering-tube which at its lower end is rigidly secured to a bearing-shank 7. The

bearing-shank 7 is swiveled in the bearingsleeve 3 and has a projectingannularshoulder 8, which rests upon the upper end of the sleeve 3, below the upper surface ofthe table 2. This centering-tube 6 serves as a sheath for the knife 9, and to permit the knife to be operated it is provided with a vertical slot 10, extending from the upper surface of the table 2 to the top of the said tube. It is important to note (see Fig. 1) that this tube or sheath 6 is adapted to entirely contain the knife 9. At its lower or inner end the knife 9 is pivotally connected at 1l to a fulcrumblock 12', which is mounted for a limited vertical rnovement in a suitable seat 13, formed in the shank 7 of the tube 6. The said fulcrumblock l2 is, however, held for rotary movement with or against rotary movement with respect to the shank 7 and tube 6. This is shown being accomplished by forming the said shank 12 and the seat 13 square in crosssection. Awasher 14 is seated against a stopshoulder in the lower end of the shank 7. A coiled spring 15, mounted on a central passage 16 of the shank 7, is attached to the lower end of the fulcrum-block '7 and is provided at its lower end with a threaded bolt 17, which projects through the washer 14 and is provided with a nut 18, by means of which the tension of the spring 15 may be adjusted at will. A washer 19 on the lower end of the swiveled shank 7, held in place by one or more nuts 20, prevents the said shank and the tube 6 from being lifted from working positions.

By reference particularly to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the knife 9 is sharpened or beveled equally for both sides. This causes the knife to cut without crowding laterally.

By reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 it will be noted that the knife is rocker -shaped or `curved slightly outward. This is important,

as will be hereinafter made apparent.

The upper end of the centering tube or sheath 6 is partially closed bya plug 2l,which is slotted at 22 to pass the knife 9. The upper surface of this plug 2l is bulged upward and provided with inclined forward and rear edges for an important purpose to be presently noted.

The knife 9 is provided at its free end with a handpiece 24 of the same diameter as the IOO tube or sheath 6,so that when the knife stands in its normal position (indicated in Fig. 1) it forms a continuation of the centering-tube. This handle 24 may be of wood, in which case Y it is provided at its lower end with a metallic facing 25. This metallic facing 25, or the lower end of the handpiece 24, in case the said handpiece is made of metal, is made concave, so as to [it the bulged upper surface of the plug 21. f

For cooperation with the knife a straightedge or radial guide-arm 26 isprovided, and this straight-edge is formed or provided at its inner end with a sleeve 27, which telescopes over and is adjustable on the centering tube or sheath 6, being, as shown, held where set by a set-screw 28. To permit the passage of the knife 9, the sleeve or hub 27 is slotted, as shown at-29, and this slot 29 is always set in registration with the slot 10 of the centering tube or sheath.

The character z indicates the cake of cheese which is centered by the centering-tube 6 and supported by the table 2, the said cheese being indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 by dotted lines. The straighbedge 26 is provided at its free end with a finger-piece 30, by means of which it may be moved and by means of which it may be pressed downward tightly onto the cheese to prevent turning of the cheese while it is being cut.

Operation: Before the cake of cheese is applied, as indicated in the drawings, it must rst be centered, and then by means of asocalled tester (which is usually in the form of along semicylindrical cutter) a hole the size of the centering-tube 6 is cut axially through the cheese. To guide the tester or cutter axially through the cake of cheese, the straight-edge 26 may be removed from the tube 6 and applied with its sleeve portion 27 in axial line with the cheese, in which case the said sleeve 27 may be used as aguide for the said tester. The cake of cheese may then be slipped over the knife-handle 24 and onto the centering-tube 6, the straight-edge of course at this time remaining'removed from working position on the tube 6. The straightedge is then applied to the center of the tube, as already clearly stated. In this construction the centering-tubes and parts rotated therewith may remain stationaryin the table 2 and cake of cheese z rotated to bring the successive segments of cheese into line with the knife 9 and straight edge 26, or, if desired, the said table 2 and cake z may remain stationary and the tube 6, knife 9, and straight-edge 26 may be rotated. To cut the cheese, it is only necessary to force the handle end 24 of the knife 9 downward. During about the first half of the knifes movement it is guided by the straight-edge 26. When the knife reaches the position indicated in Fig. 3, it has cut through the bottom of the cheese only ata point close to the centering-tube. The knife being pressed still farther downward the cutting edgethereof will engage the table or cutting-board and will cut through the bottom of the cheese from the center outward to the periphery thereof, under which movement of the knife the spring 15 yields and permits the fulcrumblock 12 to rise within its seat 13. The knife may thus be given a rocking action over the board or table 2, which insures a cutting of the cheese through its tough under surface. Vith a straight knife and a iiat table orcutting-board this cutting of the cheese is a much more difficult task. The knife might, however, be formed with a straight cutting edge and the table or cutting-board might be provided with a convex supporting-surface; but this construction for several reasons would not be the full equivalent of the construction illustrated. The yield in fulcrum is necessary in order to permit the rocking action of the knife.

There is an obvious advantage in having the knife-pivotally attached to the device, and with this construction it is essential that the centering tube or sheath be of such size as -to completely contain the knife when the said knife is turned into its inoperative position.

In Fig. 2 the knife is shown as closely approaching its inoperative or normal position,

and in this position it will be noted that the concave metal facing 25 has just engaged the inclined forward edge of the concave top of the tube-plug 21. As the knife is moved into its normal position the spring 15 yields slightly, so as to permit the knife to raise and the metallic facing 25 to engage over the conveX surface 23 of the said plug 21, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position of the knife shown in Fig. l the said knife is securely held against accidental displacement or movement from normal position.

The device above described is of course capable of many modifications within the scope of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by ALetters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with a support for a cake of cheese, of a slotted centering-tube projecting therefrom, a yielding fulcrum-block within said tube, and a knife pivoted to said- IOO IIO

cooperative with said fulcruxn, said knife and board being arranged for a rocker action of the knife on said cutting-board under the yielding action of said fulcrurn, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a cutting board or support, of a yielding fulcrum, and a knife with a convex or rocker-shaped cutting edge,

pivotaiiy connected -to said yielding fuicrum, and cooperating with the said cutting-board in the cutting action, substantially as decribed.

5. The combination with a cutting board or support for a cake of cheese, of a slotted centering-tube projecting therefrom, aspringheld fulcrum-block within the lower end of said tube, and a knife pivoted to said fulcru m-block and provided with a convex or a HENRY G. ROTH.

Witnesses:

B. ANGER, H. G. Vick. 

